Headless Ghosts

Sheep

Location: Blandford Forum (Dorset) - Sheep Market HillType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: A herd of phantom, ruminant animals are reputed to walk along this street; the sheep are said to be headless.

Hunt

Location: Blandford Forum (Dorset) - Woods in the areaType: ShuckDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Thought to be part of a phantom hunt, these ghostly dogs have been heard running and yelping through woodland. It is also thought that a headless shuck haunts the area, though it is less sure whether the entity is connected to the hunt pack.

Anne Boleyn

Location: Blickling (Norfolk) - Blickling HallType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 19 May (Reoccurring)Further Comments: To mark the anniversary of her death, a coach pulled by four headless horses pulls up on the driveway, with a decapitated Anne on a seat, her head in her lap. After Anne's headless white ghost arrives, it is said then to climb out, before inspecting each room of the Hall (the place of her birth and childhood). On the same date, Sir Thomas Boleyn is said to drive a team of headless horses in this area, cursed to cross twelve Norfolk bridges (including those at Aylsham, Coltishall and Wroxham).

Duelling Knights with Fiery Swords

Location: Blofield (Norfolk) - Path leading from Blofield church to St Michael's at BraydestonType: LegendDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Returning to this realm once a year, the knights are said to be Sir Thomas Boleyn (father of Anne) and Sir Thomas Paston. Their shades battle with burning swords, and Lady Anne watches from a nearby carriage, pulled by headless horses.

John Bibby

Location: Bootle (Lancashire) - Peel Road / Bibby's LaneType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 31 December (reoccurring)Further Comments: Seen once a year, Bibby rides his coach with his decapitated head in his lap.

Headless Coachman

Location: Bossington (Somerset) - Roads in the areaType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Late nineteenth centuryFurther Comments: A witness is said to have encountered a phantom coach and horses, driven by a headless coachman. The entity vanished just after passing the viewer.

Mrs Short

Location: Boulge (Suffolk) - Boulge Hall (no longer standing) and general areaType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Unknown, but said to appear on the stroke of midnightFurther Comments: The ghost of Mrs Short (called the Queen of Hell during her lifetime on account of her furious temper) was said to emerge from the hall's gates in a coach pulled by headless horses. Another report says her ghost was seen in night cap and gown running around the area. Some versions of the tale states the phantom in the coach is actually a Mr Fitzgerald.

Roman Battle

Location: Bowerchalke (Wiltshire) - Between village and WoodmintonType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Headless horses can be seen and the sounds of fierce fighting can be heard here - the area was the site of a battle between Roman legionnaires and the Britons.

Lady Jane Grey

Location: Bradgate (Leicestershire) - Bradgate ParkType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Around Christmas (Reoccurring)Further Comments: Raised here as a child, Lady Jane's tormented shade now haunts both the mansion and the grounds surrounding the building. One ghost story says that she arrives in a coach pulled by four black headless horses at the house on Christmas Eve.

Headless Woman

Location: Branthwaite (Cumbria) - Exact location unknownType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: This decapitated entity moves through the area moaning and crying, according to a local rhyme.

Sir Thomas Boleyn Drives Headless Horses

Location: Breckles (Norfolk) - Breckles HallType: CurseDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: The father of Anne Boleyn is said to be cursed with driving his coach over forty (or eleven) Norfolk bridges. One of the passing points is Breckles Hall, where the spectre once scared a poacher to death (another version states that the poacher was taken by the Devil because of his constant law breaking). Locals say that anyone who views the coach is dragged down to hell.

Father John

Location: Brede (Sussex) - Brede PlaceType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: One of several spectres alleged to haunt (or have haunted) this location, this figure is said to be benevolent in nature. A former maid has also been seen onsite (she was hanged for theft), a headless man wanders around, and a woman who looks like she originates from the Elizabethan days. Finally, Sir Goddard has been seen walking around - he was sawn in half by angry villagers when it was discovered he ate babies!

Headless Lady

Location: Bretforton (Hereford & Worcester) - Church, and surrounding areaType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: A phantom funeral procession arrives at the church, though for whom it represents is a mystery. Fields on either side of the church are said to be haunted by a decapitated woman, carrying her head under arm.

White Calf

Location: Brigg (Lincolnshire) - Between Brigg and Wrawby, near a streamType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: The phantom white calf (also known as the Lackey Causey calf), sometimes headless, was said to emerge from a tunnel and attempt to lure people into the water, though the creature's entrance may no longer exist.

Footsteps

Location: Brigg (Lincolnshire) - Exchange Coach House InnType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: The sound of disembodied footsteps is said to haunt this hotel, with a phantom headless monk and ghostly little girl also present.

Headless Figure

Location: Brightwalton (Berkshire) - Field near the Marquis of Granby pubType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: This entity is reputed to just stand motionless in the field. Just like a scarecrow.

Decapitated Horseman

Location: Bristol (Somerset) - Ashton Court EstateType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Weather Dependent: Clear moonlit nights (horseman)Further Comments: Ashton Court is best known for its ghostly headless horseman, though there are also reports of grey ladies and a phantom hound.

Headless Nun

Location: Bristol (Somerset) - Black Castle public houseType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Twentieth century?Further Comments: This pub is reputedly haunted by one or more headless nuns. Mild poltergeist phenomenon has also been reported in the building, as has the sighting of a ghostly little girl.

Figure with Child

Location: Bristol (Somerset) - Private residence, Portland SquareType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: November 2017Further Comments: A national tabloid carried some highly suspect video created by a builder who claimed he had filmed a headless phantom carrying a child.

Headless Horseman

Location: Bristol (Somerset) - University of Bristol and Tyndall, Avenue areaType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Students have reported seeing a headless horseman patrolling this area late at night.

Swerving Coach

Location: Brockley (Somerset) - Road leading to Brockley CombeType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Horseman at midnight on moonless nights, others unknownFurther Comments: This coach and four is said to charge at oncoming traffic, causing accidents and chaos. Some have also reported a headless huntsman in the same zone. A phantom horseman is also said to appear on moonless nights, and finally the area is home to a 'bounding' ghost, a figure that runs ahead of people, only to vanish without trace.

Marion Gorman

Location: Brooke End (West Midlands) - Railway passing through Brooke End, near signal boxType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 1950sFurther Comments: Marion was decapitated by a train on the tracks, slipping over in front of it as she headed to the signal box to meet her lover in the early 1900's. She has been seen several times since, always stepping in front of an incoming train before fading from view. One driver reported seeing her ghostly form wearing a bloody dress without a head.

Dullahan

Location: Bryansford (County Down) - Hill between Bryansford and MoneyscalpType: Crisis ManifestationDate / Time: Twentieth centuryFurther Comments: Riding headless on a black horse, the Dullahan are said to be bearers of ill-omen. The entity carries his severed, decaying head in his right hand. Wherever the Dullahan stops, it is said that a mortal will shortly die on that spot.

Cwn Annwn

Location: Buckholt (Gwent) - Road through the areaType: ShuckDate / Time: 1961 onwards (hound), face sighting possibly mid twentieth centuryFurther Comments: A driver passing through Buckholt in 1961 reported seeing a large black hound, believed to be Cwn Annwn, a spectral hound of Annwn, although some people believe it to be a ghostly donkey. More recently, although no date has been mentioned, the hound has been seen in a nearby cottage which is also haunted by two phantom people (one short, one headless). Finally, a witness encountered the face of a beautiful woman along the road. The witness apologised and stepped to one side before realising that there was no one else present.

Sir Thomas

Location: Burgh (Norfolk) - BridgeType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 19 May (reoccurring)Further Comments: A ghostly coach and four passes over this bridge once a year. It is said to be driven by a headless Sir Thomas Boleyn, and is one of eleven (or twelve, or forty) bridges that he passes over on the night of his daughter Anne's execution.